Hair Questionnaire Results
Q. What impression does a bald head give?

For a man: not really anything in particular, depends on individual reason as this is an accepted statement for men. For a woman: Independent thought, comfort in one owns vessel, a message to ask people to think differently. ~ Jo, 18, ENG

I think for men it’s quite attractive, for women, looks great on some but I guess I would assume they are followers of a certain genre of music or political movement or something, where as for men I wouldn’t make any assumptions, I’d just think it was a hair cut. I guess I’d think the women are trying to make some kind of statement or trying to show they belong to a particular group….. wow that makes me judgmental, I apologise to all shaven headed women out there! ~ Pavan, 22, ENG

On girls, I love a shaved head, it shows courage, boldness, and I find it very attractive. On men, It can sometimes look intimidating but sometimes look attractive and It's an easy style to maintain. ~ Amanda, 18, UK

Nothing these days, people are so much more free with hairstyles than before.  Men shave their heads for convenience and not much comment is passed on it.  I know women who do for a statement, other women who do for charitable reasons (Cancer Foundation's "Crop for a Cure") and some who do it for convenience. ~ Kath, 33, AUS

I think it TOTALLY depends on the person. Obviously in society there is this stereotype of 'skinheads'. Personally I like boys with longer hair, but I wouldn't get a particular impression of a boy with a shaved head; I'd take in the whole; clothing etc. As for girls - some women look amazing and still feminine- or even amazing and not- with a shaved head, but in my own opinion it's the rare chickadee who can pull it off. I know I couldn't. ~ Emily, 18, ENG

In women, I think it gives the impression of masculinity, too much masculinity, a denial of femininity. In men, it enhances masculinity. ~ Mandy, 29, USA

For men, no particular message. If I saw a woman with a shaved head, I would assume that it was due to ill-health of some form. ~ CF, 36

Women – not really sure, can look very gay, or just quite masculine. (Weird that, eh? – that shaved heads are masculine, and shaving anywhere else is to look more feminine?) ~ Edd, 18, ENG

A shaved head for males represent age, weariness and/or non-conformity; a shaved head for females represent non-conformity and/or one’s personal sense of fashion. ~ Wayne, 21, Hong Kong

I think that what ever a person is comfortable with is how they should be. I myself have a shaved head and love it... so easy to deal with and no need for product!!!!!!!!! ~ Dale, 33, NZ

I know that some males shave their heads as a reaction to male-pattern baldness by removing all of their head hair. In order for the male, in this instance, to conform to the idea of hair being a masculine trait, he must remove the hair that makes the absence of hair on other parts of the head obvious in order to present a “potential” hairyness. Willingly embracing baldness is the only way of preserving the maleness of hair. This is a case of smooth skin being undesirable, so removing the hair around it has the effect of making the male feel in control of his masculinity by disguising that which we have been told is a feminine trait or ideal. The bizarre twist is that a female with a shaved head is seen as presenting a aggressive masculine persona. There are, of course, medical conditions that cannot and should not be assimilated with gender politics. ~ Sean, 36, ENG

A male with a shaved head doesn’t really send many messages other than, “Possibly balding” – unless they have a head-tattoo, then it’s whatever that tattoo represents, heh. A female with a shaved head does show a sort of “punkishness”, rebellion, or just “giving-up” on having to deal with head-hair, heh. Or possibly undergoing chemotherapy (which is ok for me to say, cuz i’ve been through it). ~ Nick, 25, Canada

I mentioned earlier as someone saying hair is only good for one place and that is on the head... and its ironic that I being pro-hair, would say the only place that should be shaved is the head.. if one choses to be. ~ Scott, 29, US